February 1, 2013

The five winning artists of the fifth Abraaj Group Art Prize are in the final stages of producing their new artworks which will be unveiled at Art Dubai on March 19, 2013. The winners, announced last year, are: Vartan Avakian and Rayyane Tabet from Lebanon, Iman Issa from Egypt, Huma Mulji from Pakistan and Hrair Sarkissian from Syria.

They have been working closely with guest curator Murtaza Vali for the past six months on their ambitious projects, which have required them to experiment with new techniques, travel internationally and undertake new research.

Murtaza Vali Portrait

MURTAZA VALI

Portrait of the artist by the photographer Siddharth Siva, 2012

Courtesy of the photographer

Accompanying the exhibition will be a publication designed by Brooklyn based design agency Project Projects, with commissioned essays from writers such as Haig Avazian, Adnan Madani Vali Mahlouji, Walid Sadek and Kaelen Wilson-Goldie.

Savita Apte, Chair of the Abraaj Group Art Prize, said: “The Selection Committee have consistently showcased creative excellence from the MENASA region highlighting artists who traverse national and regional boundaries with their work. This year's winners Vartan Avakian, Rayyane Tabet, Iman Issa, Huma Mulji and Hrair Sarkissian join an alumni who are already inspirational figures in the global art scene and whose works are shown increasingly in international institutions."

Iman Issa Portrait

IMAN ISSA

Portrait of the artist, 2012

Courtesy of the artist

Huma Mulji Artist Portrait

HUMA MULJI
Portrait of the artist by the photographer Siddharth Siva, 2012
Courtesy of the photographer

Huma Mulji Artwork

HUMA MULJI

Ode To A Tubelight, 2011

Enamel and mixed media on canvas

Previous Artwork. Courtesy of the artist Huma Mulji

The five new works will bring the total number of artworks created by artists awarded the prize to 21, and will be part of the Abraaj Art Collection following their unveiling at Art Dubai 2013.

The aim of the Abraaj Group Art Prize is to give often under-represented, contemporary artists the resources to further develop their talent. Artists are invited to submit proposals for new artworks they would like to produce. Once chosen by the Selection Committee, the artists go on to produce the works. The artists collaborate with an internationally renowned curator. This allows them to tap the latest trends, while the prize gives them a global platform to showcase their works and their region. The Abraaj Group, a leading private equity investor operating in global growth markets of Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Middle East, launched the art prize in 2008. To date, the 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 works were unveiled at Art Dubai and artworks have been exhibited at several venues in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Gulf and the US including: The National Museum of Carthage, Tunis, Tunisia (2012), the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, India (2012-2013), the Biennale of Sydney, Australia (2012); Future of a Promise, collateral event of the 54th Venice Biennale, Italy (2011); Museum of Photography, Braunschweig, Germany (2012), La Triennale, Palais de Tokyo, Paris, France (2012); Parasol Unit, London, UK (2012-2013); Museum of Arts and Design, New York, US (2009 and 2010); Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian’s Museum of Asian Art, Washington DC, US (2012-2013); Dubai International Financial Centre, Dubai (2009, 2010, 2013) and the Maraya Arts Centre, Sharjah (2010), UAE.